On the cover

For the cover, we asked renowned Icelandic visual artist Baldur Helgason to render the cover feature’s concept visually. The result: a contemporary depiction of the shoulder angel and demon. Here, temptation is represented by the stereotypical podcast bro, whose narrative has come to shape and influence the thinking of young men around the world. As Alma Mjöll Ólafsdóttir suggests in this issue’s cover feature, the idea that all the world’s problems can be solved through cold plunges, financial discipline, and self-actualisation, is a common product sold by contemporary soapboxers. The big vibe shift has turned public opinion on its head, where traditional notions of gender, power, and religion are gaining a foothold.

Cover illustration by Baldur Helgason